The Burning Pen

A New Beginning
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 50

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 50 ~ Hermione’s Idea

As Hermione showered, she couldn’t help the growing feeling of apprehension she felt concerning the upcoming conversation with Professor Snape. It was clear they were moving to another level, but there were so many unknowns concerning the wizard. She wished there were a way to get some inside knowledge, some inkling of how the snarky wizard would handle a relationship. If only there were some kind of test . . .

Hermione nearly dropped the soap as the answer came to her. Of course!

As she rinsed, Hermione knew the wizard would probably balk at what she wanted to do, and the best thing to do was not to tell him until the last possible moment. Hermione had only been with Ron, but she knew one thing for certain, that wizards who were interested in witches were usually very accommodating. Professor Snape would most likely fall into that category as well, with a few complaints, of course. But if he wanted to have this conversation, he’d have to do ask she asked first.

Hermione exited the shower, dried off, brushed her hair and dressed in warm muggle clothing. Jeans, a heavy blue sweater, thick socks and trainers. She grabbed a coat out of the wardrobe, then walked into the living room to wait for the Professor, the coat resting on the sofa. After a moment, she hurried into the kitchen and made a quick ham sandwich with mayo, lettuce and tomato for the wizard. She wasn’t hungry herself. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. She opened it.

Professor Snape stood there, taking in the heavy sweater she wore before entering.

”I presume my lunch is prepared?” he said to the witch, his dark eyes meeting hers.

Hermione gestured toward the kitchen.

”I made you a sandwich. It’s in there,” she said.

Snape headed for the kitchen, his eyes falling on the heavy coat resting on the sofa.

”Are you planning on going somewhere?” he asked the witch as he sat down in front of his sandwich. Hermione got a glass, went to the cooler and poured him some pumpkin juice. She set it on the table on his right, then sat down in the chair opposite him as he picked up his sandwich and bit into it.

”Actually, we’re going somewhere,” Hermione said as the wizard chewed, “I want to go before we have our talk. It’s important.”

Snape took a sip of his pumpkin juice then arched an eyebrow at her.

”It sounds to me as if you’re stalling for time, Hermione,” he purred.

She scowled.

”I am not stalling for time. I’m trying to . . . to clarify something first. It will make me more comfortable. If I’m uncomfortable, then our talk won’t go well, “ she said to him.

”Where are we going?” Snape asked her, surprising the witch. She thought he’d put up more of an argument. But she had been right about him being accommodating. Actually Snape thought it best to just humor the witch. Sooner or later they’d get down to the meat of the situation. He’d like her in a good mood when that happened.

”Muggle London. A café,” she said as he continued eating.

”I hope not to eat,” he said.

”No. For something else,” Hermione said evasively.

Snape stopped eating for a moment.

”You aren’t going to tell me the purpose of this trip until the last possible moment, are you witch?” he asked her directly.

”No. I think it will be more effective if I tell you when we actually arrive at our destination,” she said as the wizard scowled.

“You know, one of the most important aspects of a relationship is ‘trust,’” she added.

Snape sighed inwardly. Lily used to do this to him all the time. Drag him about not telling him where they were going until the last minute and it was usually someplace he didn’t appreciate a bit. Well, that’s just how witches were.

“Fine. I won’t question you again then,” he said, focusing on his sandwich. “I’ll find out what it’s about once we get there.”

Hermione smiled. It seemed the Professor could be manipulated. That was very good to know. She waited patiently for him to finish his food.

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Snape and Hermione exited the Leaky Cauldron and caught the E8 bus, taking it to the heart of Brentford, getting off on the south side of the High Street, right in front of Barclays Bank.

”There it is,” Hermione said excitedly, crossing the street. Snape followed, reading the sign:

The TASHA Foundation Internet Café.

Snape caught up to her.

”TASHA Foundation?” he asked her.

”This foundation offers help to people suffering from addiction and mental problems, offering therapy and treatment . . .” she began.

Snape stalled.

”I am not in need of any services,” he said darkly, “Did you bring me here to be psychoanalyzed, witch?”

Hermione laughed.

”No. This café is open to the public. They have computers. That’s why we’re here, to use one. All the proceeds go to the foundation,” she said to the wizard, catching him by the arm and pulling him after her.

Ah. All right. Snape knew what computers were. Boxes that provided all types of information. They didn’t work in the wizarding world however. They needed electricity.

Hermione and Snape entered the café, the wizard getting a few looks because of his robes, but most thought he was an old Goth or something. You got all types in here. Hermione paid for the use of one of the several terminal rooms, then led the wizard in. On a table was a computer with a lot of little images arranged in neat rows. Two chairs were in front of it. Hermione took a seat and grabbed a little oval item attached to the computer by a wire and moved it around.

Snape noticed a little arrow following her hand motions as she clicked a little “e” symbol down at the bottom of the screen. Using her index finger she right-clicked it with a little button on the oval thingamabob.

A window opened and brightly colored letters that read “GOOGLE” appeared.

Hermione began to type.

”Relationship tests,” the words said.

Snape scowled.

”What are you doing?” he asked Hermione, who studied the list that appeared before her.

”You’re going to take an evaluation test, Professor. It won’t take long,” she replied, clicking on one of the pages listed. She studied it, shook her head and went back, trying another link. She went through several before she found what she wanted.

Snape was too taken aback to even say anything for a moment. An evaluation test?

”I just need to make an account. I have to register as male because I believe the tests are different for men. When you finish the test, the results will go to my email and then I’ll be able to print it out and take it back with us to the site,” she explained.

”And this evaluation is supposed to do what?” the wizard asked her, still scowling.

”Give me a little insight into you, your motivations, things like that,” Hermione said.

”You’re researching me, Hermione?” Snape asked her incredulously.

”No,” she replied, “Not exactly. I just want to feel more prepared about this whole thing.”

”There’s no way an evaluation can judge what I am like in a relationship,” Snape snorted as Hermione stood up, “This is insane.”

Now Hermione scowled.

”Humor me,” she growled at him, folding her arms.

Snape blinked at her. Shit. Why didn’t the Powers That Be in their omnipotence create an alternative to women so men could have a choice?

Little did Snape know women also wondered the same thing sometimes. But clearly, Hermione had the upper hand. If he didn’t do this, it could set him back badly. The wizard sighed and sat down as Hermione leaned over him and pointed at the oval item.

”This is a mouse. You use this to interact with the screen,” she said, “A question will appear and then a choice of answers each with a box next to it. Point the arrow at the box next to the answer you want, then right-click the mouse to select it. Then the next question will come up. Just go through them until you finish.”

Snape looked at the title of the test. ”Can You Find True Love?”

”Hermione, you have to be joking? You can’t seriously believe this will tell you anything about me,” he said to her.

"It might give me a general idea. I just want to see what it says. Thousands of people use tests like this,” she said.

”Thousands of people are damn fools,” he groused, scowling at the screen.

”Click on ‘Start the Test’” Hermione said, “It’s underlined.”

Snape did as she asked.

A statement appeared, and underneath it five boxes with answers next to them that read:

Very Inaccurate
Moderately Inaccurate
Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate
Moderately Accurate
Very Accurate

”That statement is about you. You have to answer how accurate it is,” she said.

The statement read: “Do not have a good imagination.”

”What does my imagination matter?” he asked the screen, frowning.

”It’s a well-rounded test. Not all questions will be about love, Professor. Now go ahead and answer it,” Hermione urged, staring at the screen.

Snape hesitated, then looked at her.

”I would like some privacy if you please. I won’t be able to answer these questions properly with you hanging over my shoulder like some kind of vulture,” he said to her snarkily.

”Fine. I’ll go get some coffee,” Hermione huffed, and left the wizard alone.

Snape shook his head.

”I’m mad,” he muttered to himself as he answered the first question.
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A/N: lol. Sorry for the shortness of the chappie, but more to come. I am going to include the statements he had to answer. I actually registered on a site as Severus and took this test, trying to answer the way I imagined he would. Lol. It was 113 damn questions! One on each page. I was so aggravated lol. But I painstakingly copied each one and saved it for the story. The results? Man oh man. Lol. But ya’ll will see in the next chapter. ***


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